A Puritan Prayer - Repentance

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Tim Challies posted the following prayer here.




O God of Grace,

You have imputed my sin to my substitute, and have imputed his righteousness to my soul, clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe, decking me with jewels of holiness. But in my Christian walk I am still in rags; my best prayers are stained with sin; my penitential tears are so much impurity; my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin; my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance; I need my tears to be washed; I have no robe to bring to cover my sins, no loom to weave my own righteousness; I am always standing clothed in filthy garments, and by grace am always receiving change of raiment, for you always justify the ungodly; I am always going into the far country, and always returning home as a prodigal, always saying, “Father, forgive me,” and you are always bringing forth the best robe.

Every morning let me wear it, every evening return in it, go out to the day’s work in it, be married in it, be wound in death in it, stand before the great white throne in it, enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

Grant me never to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the exceeding righteousness of salvation, the exceeding glory of Christ, the exceeding beauty of holiness, the exceeding wonder of grace.

Comments

Steve Martin said…
Nice one!

"Have mercy on me Lord, a sinner."

I probably pray that maybe 20 times a day.
September 29, 2010
J. K. Jones said…
Steve,

Good to hear from you.

I pray that prayer alot myself.
September 30, 2010
steve kindorf said…
Hi, I thought you might like to use this on your web site, or for yourself. A free prayer book by Matthew Henry called 'A Method for Prayer' 1710 edition, with added devotional prayers and Bible helps. You can use the audio files for the book if you like. www.mrmatthewhenry.com
October 22, 2013
J. K. Jones said…
Thanks, Steve K. My pastor bought several of us a copy of the book last year. It's a great aid to prayer.
October 22, 2013
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